Flaboo! ethics of promo-codes?

I know this might not be the place to ask this, as it's not a tech question, but I can't think of where else to post it, as it's definitely iPhone specific.

I've just finished [url=http://itunes.apple.com/app/flaboo/id342920124?mt=8 "]Flaboo![/url] (thanks to all those who helped out during its development), and am now receiving random requests for promo-codes in return for - presumably positive - app-store reviews. These are not from review sites, but random guys with aol addresses. This strikes me as ethically questionable. Has anyone experienced the same thing? If so, how did you handle it? I'm concerned that a flat refusal could lead to troll-reviewing.

As ever, any advice appreciated. Apologies to the mods if there's a more appropriate forum here for this kind of query.

Have not experienced this particular scenario... Typically I have used promo codes for review copies to legitimate press sites, and as a reward to testers. Of course, if a tester was willing enough to test your app, giving that person a free code probably guarantees a positive review. However, I think the reward of a free copy of the app is acceptable. Do you agree?

Seems like for random people who are not associated with the press, this is just strange... you may get a positive review, you may not, but they definitely get a free copy of the game. A different, but perhaps more clearly answered, question: Do you want to give out your free promo codes to random people who may otherwise purchase your app?

If they simply want a free copy, I doubt they would be willing to spend their hard earned money just to downrate an app.

I looked at each request individually. I asked for links to other reviews that the person has done and judged the validity based on the quality of the site and reviews. Most of the time they will provide a link to the site that the review will be posted on, so you don't even have to request it. If you don't like what you see, just ignore the e-mail. I've probably ignored about 30% of requests.

On the other hand, you also have the opposite ethical problem. There is at least one site that requests money (though not much) in order for them to write a "featured review". Maybe users don't know it's paid for, but paying for a review AND giving away a promo code is more questionable than just giving away a promo code.

All in all, I've been pretty happy with the coverage I've gotten from the promo codes I've passed out.

Zwilnik Wrote:You'll get a lot of them unfortunately. 99.99% of them are from apptards after freebies.

apptards...

I had to disable PM's on Touch Arcade 'cause most of them went along the lines of "can i has promo code?". A lot of these same people hoard and trade codes - they might not even want your game, and the code you give them might not even get used.

Brian Greenstone coined the phrase in a talk a while back and I'm in total agreement on its usage

The latest level of 'fun' on the TA PM system is getting messages from forum users on there asking devs if they'll write their game for them and offering a $10 iTunes voucher as payment. I won't rip into them because I was 12 once too, but it does show the low value that a lot of wanabee devs and testers put on iPhone games.

Zwilnik Wrote:Brian Greenstone coined the phrase in a talk a while back and I'm in total agreement on its usage

The latest level of 'fun' on the TA PM system is getting messages from forum users on there asking devs if they'll write their game for them and offering a $10 iTunes voucher as payment. I won't rip into them because I was 12 once too, but it does show the low value that a lot of wanabee devs and testers put on iPhone games.

Wow. I just received one of those PMs from TA, too: "Do you have any promo codes? I'd love to give this game a 5 star review." Yeech.

I don't get a huge number of these but I have had them.
My promo code giveaways have always been - email me the name of a game you reviewed, and the username you used to review it, then I'll give you a code. It has resulted in around 80% of reviews coming in from promo code users. Much better, I suspect, than just posting codes in the forums for people to grab. When someone emails me out of the blue I simply ask for the same thing - if they can provide details of a review they've done I'll give them a code. More often than not it's just about if they're willing to come back to you in an email then they probably legitimately want to play your game. I also assume a lot of these people won't buy even if I don't give them a code.

As a consumer who relies on reviews To make an informed purchase I think it's unfair but Probably unavoidible, that said you currently have 0 reviews or ratings showing up for me (I'm in Australia) so as cool as It looks (I really dig the pawrint button) I wouldn't buy it ATM so getting those reviews right now is pretty important.